By Andrew Davis
Some children of celebrities simply rely on their parents' names to get them through—but not Lorna Luft. Luft, the daughter of the legendary Judy Garland ( and half-sister of Liza Minnelli ) , has used her multiple talents to craft a career steeped in acting and dancing.
On June 17, she performed at Human Rights Campaign's 2006 Chicago Gala Dinner, which was held at the Hyatt Regency. ( Among those honored were AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Windy City Times publisher Tracy Baim and designer/Oprah regular Nate Berkus. ) Before the day of the event, Luft talked with Windy City Times about her mother, American Idol—and listening to Usher.
Windy City Times: What drew you to the HRC gala?
Lorna Luft: My manager, Garrett Keith, has been involved with HRC and he got me involved. I think that HRC is such an incredible organization; it's prominent and prevalent. When someone asks you to perform and it's something that's so important, why wouldn't I be there?
WCT: Would you call yourself a gay-rights activist?
LL: I call myself someone who will fight and protect the rights of human beings. I'm a singer and entertainer. If I can lend my voice and talents to a cause that will help another human being, then why not?
WCT: On June 10, you attended the first-day-of-issue ceremony of the Judy Garland Legends of Hollywood commemorative stamp ceremony. What was that like?
LL: The stamp was unveiled at Carnegie Hall [ in New York City ] and the ceremony was extraordinary. It sold more stamps in the first hour issued than the other legendary stamps—and hers was No. 12. When the U.S. Postal Service decides to honor your parent that way, it's just extraordinary. The stamps are apparently flying out of the post office and it's great.
WCT: You've performed the production Songs My Mother Taught Me—A Celebration of the Music of Judy Garland. Is there a soundtrack out?
LL: No; we just finished recording it. It should be out in August or September.
WCT: What is something else your mother taught you that has stayed with you?
LL: The most important thing was to treat people the right way, to treat people as you want to be treated. If you are good to me, I'll be great to you. If you're not nice to me, then my philosophy is that I don't want to be around you.
WCT: I'm sure that philosophy has helped you navigate through Hollywood.
LL: Well, my philosophy about show business is that I consider myself lucky to work in it. I'm fortunate because there are so many actors who are not working. Show business is the way I make a living, but it's not the be-all and end-all. My reality centers around my children and husband. With show business, you can be at Carnegie Hall one night and then be on the 'Whatever happened to ... ?' list the next.
WCT: That's certainly true.
LL: Yes. The business is incredibly fickle.
There are people who put themselves out there and wonder about what party and play they're attending. You seem them over and over again and you wonder, 'God, don't they have a life?' I've chosen to keep my family life private. You won't see me at the opening of an envelope. David Letterman is famous but he's adamant about his privacy. I admire him greatly.
WCT: Of course, I know you from your CDs—but I also recall you from the TV show Trapper John, M.D. Would you do another TV series?
LL: Absolutely. TV series is another word for security. However, I'm very lucky; if I were just an actor, I don't know how I'd pay my way. I'm fortunate that I can go out and work and perform live.
Look at Brian Stokes Mitchell, who was also on Trapper John. He's become a massive star on Broadway because he said, 'Look, I can do this, too.' We knew it on Trapper John, but the public didn't know it [ at the time ] .
WCT: Do you have any thoughts about shows like American Idol?
LL: [ Chuckles. ] Yeah! I like Simon Cowell and what he's created is a phenomenon. The thing about the people on there is that they have to be incredibly careful. Let's face it: It's a popularity contest. Will [ the winners ] have lasting power? We'll see. I think that Kelly Clarkson will, absolutely. She is multitalented; she writes and is a good performer. Clay Aiken? I don't know if we'll hear from him again. Ruben Studdard? I haven't heard from him.
WCT: I read that he's gone the gospel route.
LL: That means that he's taken himself out of the mainstream.
Also, the thing about American Idol is that you have three diverse judges. However, if Simon wasn't on that show, there'd be no American Idol.
WCT: Oh, I agree with that whole-heartedly—and I find myself agreeing with him a lot.
LL: [ Laughs. ] I find myself totally agreeing with him. Some people find him mean-spirited—but the industry is mean-spirited. What he says is what everyone else will say when they walk out of their auditions.
WCT: Would you try out on a show like that?
LL: Oh, I'd love to. Simon and I could have some fun together.
WCT: Rufus Wainwright re-created your mother's 1961 Carnegie Hall show last night [ June 14 ] . How was that?
LL: Unfortunately, I didn't get to see a lot of the show, mainly because I was the 'big surprise' last night. [ She performed a song with him. ] However, the crowd reaction that I heard on my intercom was extraordinary. It was a huge undertaking.
WCT: Re-creating Judy Garland's music is a daunting task.
LL: It must've been for him. I just came on and did one number—and the place erupted. I thought that it was just lovely. The orchestra was spectacular, and the whole spirit of the night ... it was done for the right reasons.
WCT: What is Rufus like as a person?
LL: He's very gentle, very talented and very sweet. He's got that artistic quality to him, if you know what I mean. He has a great sense of humor; he's just a very sweet person.
WCT: I'm curious: Who do you listen to?
LL: I listen to a lot of people. On my iPod, I have everyone from Queen to Frankie Valli—and I love [ the Broadway musical ] Jersey Boys, by the way—to the opera singer Renee Fleming. I have so much diverse music, because it depends on the mood I'm in.
I'll find my daughter, who's 15, grabbing my iPod and she'll say, 'Mom, you gotta hear this.' I've now got Madonna's new album, Pink and Christina Aguilera along with Frankie Valli and Renee Fleming.
It's important to keep your mind and memory in tune. Jersey Boys brought back memories of being a teenager—but then you listen to Beyonce and Usher and all of these new artists who are coming out. My mom said, 'Listen to everything. You may not like it, but you've gotta listen to it.' She introduced me to the Beatles, so I think that's the right attitude.
OutMusic Award Recipients Named
The recipients of the 2006 OutMusic Awards were named at a ceremony held in New York City's Knitting Needle June 11. The event was co-hosted by lesbian international folk poet/artist-activist Alix Olson and gay singer-songwriter Ari Gold.
Musicians were awarded as follows:
—Outstanding New Recording, Female: Nedra Johnson, Nedra
—Outstanding New Recording, Male: Mark Weigle, SoulSex
—Outstanding New Recording, Debut Female: Melissa Fogarty, Handel: Scorned and Betrayed
—Outstanding New Recording, Debut Male: Kevin Cahoon, Doll
—Outstanding New Recording, Duo or Group: Girlyman, Little Star
—Outstanding New Recording, Band: Triple Creme, This Might Hurt
—Outstanding New Recording, Chorus or Choir: San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, Home For The Holidays-Live at the Castro Theater
—Outstanding New Recording, Inspirational: Marsha Stevens-Pino, You Called Us Good
—Outstanding New Recording, Instrumental: David del Tredici, Paul Revere's Ride
—Outstanding Music Video: Do You Wanna Break Up ( Videographer: David Silverberg; Performer: Cazwell )
—Outstanding Album Design: White Trash Girl ( Performer: Candye Kane; Designer: Scrojo )
—Outstanding Producer: Thomas C. Moore, various releases
—Outstanding Songwriter: Toshi Reagon, Have You Heard
—Outsong of the Year: The Underdogs ( Writers: Jen Foster and Kathy Scott; Performer: Jen Foster )
—Outmusician of the Year: Robert Urban
Furtado Gets 'Loose'
Five years after setting America's toes tapping with the songs 'I'm Like a Bird' and 'Turn Off the Light,' Canadian singer-songwriter Nelly Furtado is back with her newest CD, Loose, which is due in stores this week.
The album is reportedly named after the spontaneous, creative decisions she faced while making the CD. Currently, the hip-hop 'Promiscuous' ( featuring the producer Timbaland ) is burning up radio airwaves. The album, mostly produced by Timbaland, shows Furtado heading in a more R&B/hip-hop direction.
'The album is very youthful-sounding,' Furtado said in a statement—attributing that sound to her two-year-old daughter, Nevis.
